WASHINGTON, D.C. —Rep. Kat Cammack announced that the Fiscal Year 2025 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), and Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant opportunities are now open for applications.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA have made $648 million available nationwide to support firefighters and first responders through critical investments in equipment, staffing, training, and fire prevention initiatives.
The funding opportunities include:
$291.6 million through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program for personal protective equipment, emergency response vehicles, and responder health and wellness initiatives.
$324 million through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program for firefighter salaries, recruitment, and training.
$32.4 million through the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program for fire prevention research and firefighter safety, health, and wellness initiatives. Continue reading
Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of 14 individuals for their roles in a multi-county criminal enterprise that dealt in and trafficked stolen retail and construction materials.
“Our Organized Retail Task Force brings law enforcement agencies together to get the maximum punishment for these criminal enterprises,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Enterprises like this take millions of dollars in products off the shelves, and consumers foot the bill as retailers try to recover the costs. Thanks to interagency collaboration, we dismantled this crime ring from the top down, and we will hold them accountable.”
“This operation exposed a highly organized criminal enterprise that stretched far beyond county and state lines,” said Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Through strong partnerships and relentless investigative work, we were able to dismantle a network responsible for millions of dollars in stolen merchandise and illegal profits. Organized retail theft impacts businesses, consumers, and entire communities, and we remain committed to holding those responsible fully accountable.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that Jacob Rookey, 21, of Cudjoe Key, has been arrested and charged with 1 count of Promotion of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM), one count of Possession of CSAM, one count of Transmission of CSAM by Electronic Device, two counts of Solicitation of CSAM, three counts of Generated Altered Sexual Images, three counts of Generated CSAM, and seven counts of Promotion of Animal Sexual Abuse Materials.
“Trading in material that involves the sexual exploitation of children and animals is what keeps the sick market for this material alive,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We will seek the maximum punishment under the law for predators who perpetuate this abusive trade.”
“Preying on our community’s most innocent and vulnerable will never be okay in Florida. FDLE will investigate these vile crimes and work with Attorney General James Uthmeier’s statewide prosecutors to ensure you do not have the opportunity to victimize our children ever again,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “We urge parents and guardians to talk to your children and learn more about what they are putting online. Prevention is the best way to deter crime. Visit the Secure Florida website, which is maintained by the FDLE Cyber Crime and Telecommunications Bureau.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier awarded the 2025 Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year to Detective Eva Solis of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. The 2025 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Ceremony honored the service of Detective Solis and 11 other brave officers who demonstrated great courage and selflessness while going above and beyond the call of duty last year.
“It is my honor to recognize Detective Solis as the 2025 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, and Officer Cody Poppell as our inaugural Moment of Valor Honoree,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Detective Solis’ and Officer Poppell’s commitment extends far beyond the call of duty. Detective Solis is responsible for the rescue and recovery of four human trafficking victims, and Officer Poppel stepped into the line of fire to save countless lives at FSU. I am proud to recognize their service to the Free State of Florida.”
The recognition stems from the detective’s exceptional investigative work on one of the most horrific child exploitation and human trafficking cases in Clay County Sheriff’s Office history. A citizen discovered a thumb drive locked in a safe at an abandoned storage unit. The device was turned over to law enforcement, where investigators discovered extensive material related to child sexual exploitation. Some of the key findings from the investigation include seven identified victims, one child rescued, three victims recovered, and more than two million CSAM files. Continue reading
OCALA, Fla. (May 14, 2026) – The Reilly Arts Center welcomes a variety of national and local artists for performances of rock, jazz, classical and more this summer. Unless otherwise indicated, events are held at the Reilly Arts Center located at 500 NE 9th St. Ocala, FL 34470. Tickets can be purchased at reillyartscenter.com or by contacting the Reilly Arts Center box office at (352) 351-1606. Box office hours are 9 AM – 1 PM, Tuesday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Reilly Arts Center during box office hours.
June 2026
Reilly Noir: Longineu Parsons
Friday, June 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM | in the NOMA Black Box at the Reilly Arts Center
Tickets from $33
Experience an unforgettable night with Dr. Longineu Parsons II, internationally acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and Professor of Music at Florida A&M University. Having performed with legends like Cab Calloway and Herbie Mann, Dr. Parsons brings decades of jazz excellence to the stage. Don’t miss this extraordinary live performance celebrating a remarkable musical legacy.
Music of Mancini
Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 3 PM | AdventHealth Mainstage
Tickets from $32
Join us for Music of Mancini, a captivating tribute celebrating the timeless music of Henry Mancini. From “Moon River” and “The Pink Panther Theme” to favorites from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Peter Gunn, this unforgettable performance brings Mancini’s iconic melodies to life. Presented by Glenn Miller Productions, the team behind the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, this spectacular evening is a must-see for music lovers of all ages! Continue reading
By Marisa Rogers, MD, MPH,
Chief Medical Officer, Oak Street Health
(NAPSI)—Your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is an opportunity for you and your primary care provider to check in on your health and create a personalized plan for moving forward. A trusted relationship with your provider helps ensure you have support and guidance whenever health needs arise. To get the most out of your visit, here are 5 questions you can ask to help you maintain or improve your health:
Do any changes need to be made to my medications?
Be sure to review your current medications and supplements during your visit, especially if you’re seeing a new provider. It’s important to know whether you’re taking the appropriate medications and if any refills will be needed. If you’re having issues with your current medication(s), let your provider know. If you are prescribed a new medicine, ask if there are any side effects or interactions with your current medication(s). Make sure you’re comfortable knowing how often and for how long you should take a particular medication. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—If you are like most Americans, you wait until you notice changes in your vision before making an appointment for an eye exam. According to a poll conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only about one-third of adults know that many vision-threatening eye diseases begin without any noticeable symptoms.
“In the early phases of eye disease, your brain tries to fill in gaps in vision. That means many people with eye disease are walking around thinking they have 20/20 vision, or that they don’t need to get their eyes checked at all,” said Laura Fine, MD, EyeCare America® volunteer and ophthalmologist in Boston.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all healthy adults get a medical eye exam at least once in their 20s, twice in their 30s, and as recommended by an ophthalmologist in their 40s and beyond. People who have a family history of eye disease or preexisting health conditions, such as diabetes, may need to come in more often. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, EyeCare America may be able to help with a no-out-of-pocket-cost medical eye exam.
“Regular eye exams throughout adulthood are important to catch eye diseases and conditions early, before symptoms appear,” Dr. Fine said. “For some diseases, once vision is lost, it cannot be restored.” Continue reading
Letter was sent to the BCC on behalf of the MCREC, also this issue was on the agenda this week for the BCC, it was taken off the agenda for review in October (TBD).
When this issue was present in late April to the P&Z Commission the applicant rep, as well as the documentation provided by the County, mistakenly indicated the current water supply system had only on well. This was incorrect and likely influenced the Commission to approve the project or at least voided any questions of why not just upgrade the two existing well on USFS property.
There was a Community meeting on May 14th held by the County in Salt Springs, (I attended) as asked at the meeting there are no pending letters from the USFS that the current operation at Salt Spring is affecting their operation or any request to stop operating. The Community meeting was well run but highlighted the issues of concern and some key data gaps.
Just to be clear upgrading the wells and adding an additional storage tank to service this rural community is well-founded project, the need to change well locations lacks any substantial rational from a cost / technical basis. Continue reading
Todd Belknap
Executive Director of the
Veterans helping Veterans USA
Greetings! This is the maiden column designed to highlight Veterans’ events and activities taking place in Marion County, as well as to raise awareness of issues that concern the Veteran community at large. On behalf of the 46,000 Veterans calling Marion County home, I extend our deepest gratitude to TomL Publishing (Ocala DownTown) news for this opportunity.
The month of June brings a Summer break from organizational meetings and gatherings for many, while others continue to host activities. One such instance is the 5th Annual Marion County PTSD Awareness Day Walk. All are welcome to take part in this Community Event at Tuscawilla Park on Saturday, June 27 at 8 am for a 2.2 mile walk to help raise awareness about PTSD and the local resources available to help remedy/enhance the quality of life for anyone struggling with PTSD.
PTSD t-shirts are on sale to help fund 3 local non-profit resources – Veterans Helping Veterans USA, Marion County Fire Rescue Peer Support and Marion County Sheriff’s Office Peer Support. Shirts are available at www.mission1776.org/ptsd-shirts. Every penny from your purchase stays here in Marion County to help effectively address PTSD. We hope you join us June 27!
See you next month!
Sue Fullerton’s journey into the world of travel is rooted not only in a love of exploration, but in a deep understanding of what truly matters—time, connection, and the memories we create along the way. Since becoming a travel advisor in 2008, Sue has dedicated herself to helping others experience the world in meaningful, memorable ways, all while based in sunny Florida with her husband of 48 years.
Together, Sue and her husband have built a strong and loving blended family that now spans four children, twelve grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren—with another eagerly anticipated addition on the way. Family plays a central role in Sue’s life, and it’s this appreciation for togetherness that shapes how she approaches travel planning. She understands firsthand how powerful shared experiences can be, whether it’s a multi-generational cruise, a milestone celebration, or a long-awaited getaway.
Originally raised in California, Sue later made her way to New Jersey, where she met the love of her life. Their journey together has been filled with growth, change, and the kind of life experiences that give Sue a unique ability to connect with her clients on a personal level. She doesn’t just plan trips—she listens, she understands, and she designs travel experiences that reflect each client’s story, priorities, and dreams. Continue reading
